The arrival of Benteke will be a huge statement of intent from Palace and will fix a problem position for Pardew who lamented his lack of strikers after their home defeat to West Brom.

Connor Wickham scored just five times in the Premier League last season, the same amount as defender Scott Dann, as a lack of firepower contributed to The Eagles' alarming slump where they won just twice in their last 21 games of 2015-16.

Benteke will hope to hit the ground running for Palace after enduring a frustrating time at Anfield and his arrival will soften the blow of losing Bolasie who was the club's star man and figurehead prior to his big-money move to Everton.

"I asked [Bolasie] if there was anything I could do to keep him at the club but he said no," Pardew said.

Crystal Palace's Yannick Bolasie and West Bromwich Albion's James McClean prepare to come on as substitutes as Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew looks on

"Yannick wanted a new concept and project. That happens with players and you have to understand that but you have to replace them.

"The easy thing to do at the end of last season was find excuses but I've made changes in everything we do to try and take us forward.

"Benteke is someone I know very well as I wanted to take him to Newcastle. It just didn't work out for him at Liverpool."

Benteke brings to an end an underwhelming Liverpool stint which saw just nine goals in 29 league games, but it's unknown if the striker will be registered in time to face Tottenham at White Hart Lane this weekend.

Ross Perkins

Tottenham Hotspur season ticket holder since 2004 charting the highs and the plenty of lows that come from being a Spurs fan. A journalism graduate at the University of Winchester where I was also the former vice captain and chairman of Fly Hard: Winchester Ultimate, the university's ultimate frisbee team. Yes, it is a real sport.